The on-going budget stalemate in Harrisburg highlights the power wielded by the four party caucuses that run the show in the state legislature. Operating on their own terms, accountable to almost no one but their own leaderships and broaching no dissent from junior members, they consume millions in tax dollars and produce little in return.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey D. O’Brien will make his intentions known regarding a run for the United States Congress (PA-11) on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 9:45 a.m. from the steps of his childhood home, 1906 Delaware Street, Dunmore PA 18512.

Here is the latest legal scam of taxpayer money. Brad Bumsted at the Pittsuburgh Tribune-Reivew highlights the per diems paid to state legislators as they continue to fail in their duties to pass a state budget.

During July and August, the first two months of the state's budget impasse, lawmakers in the House and Senate collected $532,585 in per diems for food and lodging payments, records show.

Records filed with the House comptroller and Senate chief clerk show 107 Democrats and 74 Republicans collected per diems in July and August. The $158 daily allowance — a flat payment for which legislators don't need receipts — is part of the cost to taxpayers for the unresolved budget that was due July 1.

The taxpayers' costs for per diems would not be incurred if a budget was completed by June 30, as required by law. In the past, the Legislature recessed for 2 1/2 months, starting on or about July 1. They have approved budgets late for the seven years under Gov. Ed Rendell, resulting in some July per diems. But the costs during this budget impasse are the highest since at least the 1970s.

The payments to legislators during the budget impasse "make me sick," said Judy Kandel, 67, a Canonsburg retiree.

"I think since they are getting their pay, they don't give a hoot. They're looking out for themselves, not the people," she said.
The House records cover per diems submitted as of Sept. 8; the Senate records, through Aug. 31. Not all legislators claimed their per diems for the two-month period.

But based on available records, Democratic Reps. John Galloway of Bucks County and Ron Waters of Philadelphia collected the most — $7,426 for 47 per diems.

Galloway claimed 30 per diems for days when the House was not in session.

"I thought it was important to be in Harrisburg while this was going on," Galloway said. "I got a lot of questions from people, 'Why aren't you in Harrisburg working on the budget?' "

Waters did not return phone calls or e-mails seeking comment.

The top 3 in the House stack up this way:
Waters, Ron D Philadelphia $7,426
Galloway, John D Bucks $7,426
Eachus, Todd D Luzerne $7,010

Here's a link to SOP's column about collecting per diems while generating significant catering bills. Lobbyists take legislators out to dinner while they are collecting per diems. State employees for the Attorney General must provide receipts to collect their per diem. Legislators are not under the same requirements.

Lawmakers’ paychecks stopped on July 1 until the “bridge” budget was passed in August and restored the pay of state workers. At that point or shortly thereafter, the legislative caucuses began paying their members.

But several dozen House members, mostly Republicans, have refused to accept their pay.

In the Senate, the chief clerk’s office said Vance was the only one to refuse her pay.

Several, including Delozier, Helm, Grell, Gingrich and Swanger, indicated at the time that it was their intent to hold off taking a paycheck until the budget was finalized.

Rank-and-file lawmakers are paid $78,312 annually, or $6,526 a month before taxes. Legislative leaders make more.

Here are three comments posted to that article:

STATESMANSHIP? How about GREED, CORRUPTION, FRAUD and WASTE?

This state's government is one of the most corrupt and incompetent bodies in the country. It is BLOATED, SELF-OBSESSED and OUT OF CONTROL.

Sorry for shouting but this is stupidity at work and being paid for by our tax dollars

I agree with you 100 percent. Its time to clean house in Harrisburg. No body cares its all about them and their greed. What about these people who need help and are not getting it. When is this going to end.

I applaud the integrity of this handful of Pennsylvania legislators. I wish them well in surviving the tsunami of public backlash over this budget fiasco.

The winds of a drastic shift are blowing. The choice is not D or R. The choice is ethics, integrity, honesty and hard working or corrupt, self serving. out of touch legislators.

Which will you chose? I am firing all of mine.

Next year's electioneering will be riddled with accolades to convince the public of the great job legislators are doing. Where you aware that as of the end of March this year not one single bill was passed and signed by the Governor? Here's the link to the information.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Prior to his death labor leader Anthony Kane left a million dollar estate with the United Way as the primary beneficiary. According to this article in the Times Leader by Terri-Morgan Besecker it appears the primary beneficiary(ies) were anyone but the United Way.

In court papers filed Friday, attorney Michael Shucosky said Joel and Gloria Riegel engaged in “self-dealing, rampant conflict of interest (and) breach of loyalty” in handling the estate. Their actions were so egregious that Shucosky is asking a Luzerne County judge to order the couple to repay all money that was lost, as well as any commissions they earned and attorneys’ fees.

Shucosky’s petition says the Riegels began dissipating funds in the estate immediately after it was created. The activity included more than 30 loans, questionable fees and payments of commissions. The loans contained no documentation and were “imprudent investments with little likelihood of timely repayment,” the petition says.

Shucosky also found that at least 42 checks totaling $383,700 were paid to Kathryn Cubillo, a friend and business partner of Gloria Riegel. The checks were deposited into a bank account in which Riegel had an ownership interest and check writing ability. Cubillo says she received none of that money other than one $42,000 loan.

Shucosky said the Riegels maintained the loans were legitimate and supported by a note and mortgage totaling $675,000. But Cubillo denies that she signed the mortgage, calling it a “fraud.”

The mortgage was signed and notarized in Pennsylvania on Oct. 7, 2002. Cubillo said she was working in California at that time, making it impossible for her to sign the document in Pennsylvania, according to Shucosky.

Pennsylvania Lawmakers haggle over pet projects in stalled budget negotiations. So much for Monty Hall's Lets Make a Deal.

A spokesman for the Senate Republican leader insists there will be no WAMS in this tight budget year. But Tim Potts, co-founder of the good Pennsylvania government group “Democracy Rising,” says he believes there is probably more than $100 million tucked away for WAMS:

“The problem is that there’s never been an accurate accounting for WAMS. They’re never told us where they are, how much they are, what the process is used to get them.”

Keep in mind that the tax on arts, music, and theatre is meant to bring in $120 million. Guess they will be funding the WAMS if they are in the budget.

Fast Eddy Rendell's battlecry was that revenue projections were phony. In a tight state budget how does Rendell justify offering a job to the soon to be ex-mayor of Harrisburg? Tony Phyrillas previously reported that Rendell hired 110 employees, many high salaried where the pay is at least $100,000.00, on his own after he announced a hiring freeze. I guess the state budget crisis and revenue projections affect everyone except Rendell.

Let's finish up with John Baers' column in the Philadephia News that takes a semi-satirical look at the confusion over what is and what is not in the current proposed Pennsylvania State Budget.

WITH A $28 billion seemingly shaky budget deal now being explained to the rank-and-file lawmakers whose votes are needed to enact it, here's a peek at how that process might be moving along.

Picture closed meetings: many lawmakers, a few legislative leaders.

LEADER: OK, you've all seen or heard some details. Questions?

LAWMAKER #1: Yeah, explain why we should vote for $700 million in new taxes if there's a $450 million surplus in here and another $100 million in WAMs.

LEADER: We need, um, a cushion for next year. And it's probably best not to mention cushions or WAMs in your next taxpayer-financed constituent newsletter home.

LAWMAKER #2: Why are we canceling the scheduled cut in the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax for business given that the national, nonpartisan and venerable Tax Foundation just reported our ranking among states "best for business" has slipped from 22nd in 2006 to 27th now.

LEADER: Well 27th is like halfway to best, right? Next question.

LAWMAKER #3: What's the reasoning behind a new 25-cent tax on cigarettes and little cigars that look like cigarettes, but at the same time we remain the only state not taxing real cigars and chewing tobacco?

LEADER: Perhaps you are unaware of U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts released Sept. 1 saying our state, our people, our constituents will produce 19.2 million pounds of tobacco this year, up from 6.8 million in 2002, making us one of only three states, along with Kentucky and North Carolina, with a higher yield than last year. It's a grower's market, baby. Plus, remember our motto: "Gutless on Smokeless."

LAWMAKER #4: I don't see anything in here about taxing gays for access to restaurants, concerts, pro sports, public restrooms, churches and rural counties.

LEADER: No, Daryl, we took that out.

LAWMAKER #5: Speaking of concerts, why are we taxing concerts, performing arts, museums, zoos and such and not pro sports games?

LEADER: You really think the Big Guy, OK the formerly Big Guy, wants to anger owners of the Phillies and Pirates while angling to become Major League Baseball commissioner? Come on.

What I think of Ed Rendell: (I think state outrage over him is on par with the outrage against George Bush as the end of his term)

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Pennsylvania voters might reasonably ponder how Pennsylvania lawmakers, architects of the ongoing state budget travesty, expect to be re-elected next year.

As it turns out, the unfolding budget itself contains a partial answer: they're going to try to use your money to buy your vote.

The budget agreement struck last Friday includes $100 million for legislative initiative grants, the infamous "walking around money" by which legislators funnel public funds to their pet projects.

So, be on the lookout for a check-bearing politician in your neighborhood. Not that you shouldn't accept the money, but it would be well to remember its true purpose.

While arranging through the budget deal to fund their favorite initiatives, lawmakers also will put many important public or private nonprofit institutions in peril through this budget. They include libraries, museums, zoos and parks.

The deal calls for an end to the tax exemption on tickets for arts enterprises. According to Sen. Jake Corman of Centre County, it would be a "user fee" in that some of the revenue would be set aside for state arts funding.

Governments sometimes apply user fees to discretionary activities. They charge fees for use of publicly owned recreation fields, swimming pools, and so on, in order to mitigate the costs and focus the burden on users.

It is curious that lawmakers would apply such a tax to fine and performing arts, zoos, museums, movie theaters and parks, and not to other forms of discretionary entertainment spending. State taxpayers have contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the construction of fine new stadiums and arenas in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, for example, yet lawmakers do not plan to impose the state's 6 percent sales tax on tickets for the Phillies, Pirates, Steelers, Eagles, Penguins, Flyers or 76ers.

And, while lawmakers don't seem to have any problem taxing artistic endeavors, they can't bring themselves to impose an entirely reasonable "severance" tax on the state's huge and growing natural gas industry. Instead, they will vastly expand drillers' ability to exploit public land.

Pennsylvania thus is the only gas-producing state without such a tax. It also is the only state without a tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco products.

Failing to impose fair taxes on those products will enable those industries instead to continue paying for high-priced lobbyists to press their causes in Harrisburg. The arts don't have that kind of leverage.

Every budget has priorities. This unfolding one has some good ones, especially education. But, unfortunately, lawmakers themselves and their favored, well-heeled interests continue to be among the top priorities.

A poster who obviously works for a Harrisburg legislator gave me a tip so I followed up on it. The poster comes from the Democratic camp and thought I would not publish the following information as it deals with a Republican.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A senator who helped engineer the state budget deal says a plan to impose the sales tax on tickets to arts and cultural events is designed to shift the taxpayers' cost onto patrons of those activities.

Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Jake Corman said Tuesday that the idea is to make those taxes a "user fee."

Eliminating the current sales-tax exemptions is expected to generate roughly $120 million a year for the state , about twice as much as those activities currently receive in state money.

Corman says an as-yet-unspecified portion of that revenue would go into a special fund for the arts and cultural institutions.

The Centre County Republican said the percentage earmarked for arts and cultural institutions is still being firmed up.

Evidently thirty other states have this form of tax so the thought process was "Why not Pennsylvania?" I disagree with Senator Corman on this issue. It is expected to raise $120 million. There are too many small non-profits who fall into this category and the hit will leave a big hurt.

Brad Bumsted is a veteran columnist and the state Capitol reporter for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. His coverage of Harrisburg highlights issues facing the Commonwealth on a daily basis. His latest column deals with the inept process that still has the state waiting for a signed budget. Oh yes folks, just like Paul Kanjorski's statement to CNBC that a bailout package was reached when it was not the press announcement by House Leadership and the Governor are about as premature as a teenage boy experiencing a sign of manhood.

In the days of the late Jim Manderino and Matt Ryan, a budget agreement among leaders and the governor would be rammed through both chambers of the General Assembly within 24 hours.

Bleary-eyed lawmakers would be kept up all night to vote on a document they had been given just hours before.

Manderino, a Westmoreland Democrat, and Ryan, a Delaware County Republican, both served as speakers and floor leaders in the state House. They never would have allowed a proposed state budget agreement to hang in the air for a week while special interests and editorial writers picked it apart.

That's what's going on in this new age of supposed reform and transparency. With each day, rank-and-file lawmakers get more nervous about voting for the proposal.

There are no all-night sessions now. Surely that is an improvement.

But a budget agreement between Gov. Ed Rendell and the four caucuses in the House and Senate was announced more than a week ago. The delay is not a result of reforms enacted after the 2005 middle-of-the-night pay raise.

In fact, the announcement of the agreement in the dark looked a lot like the pay-jacking era. Not a single document was handed out to the media on details of the plan. Through last weekend and last week, legislators could obtain no details.

Transparency? It looked more like a plan issued by the Kremlin.

What was going on was they had reached only a very broad agreement and they were still negotiating on line items. Everyone was in a hurry to declare a deal because Pennsylvania was 80 days late on a budget as of Sept. 18. The state remains the only one in the nation without a budget. Today is the 89th day since the July 1 deadline for a budget.

At the news conference, they talked in broad terms about the plan. Some elements had been announced Sept. 11 by leaders of both parties.

The governor and leaders have no one to thank but themselves.

In another article Bumsted talks about the employee topheaviness of the legislature.

Pennsylvania is the sixth-largest state, has 4 percent of the nation's population, but features the largest legislative staff in the nation with 2,919 employees working for the House and Senate.

Why? The state Legislature is one of the most partisan legislatures in the country and because lawmakers -- at your expense -- have created a perpetual re-election machine with their Harrisburg and district office staff.

One of the problems with getting the budget on time this year was Todd Eachus and Keith McCall. While their party gave them the leadership positions the party could not confer the juice necessary to keep their caucus in line. As Brad Bumsted points out previous leaders knew how to round up the pose and get things done. Senator Mellow proved that point when he interjected himself into the negotiations.

Mr. Mellow was credited by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-9, Chester, as the catalyst for the round of leadership talks the past two weeks that led to the agreement. The talks started at the lieutenant governor's residence at Fort Indiantown Gap.

The young bucks need to reconsider staying in their posts if they really care about the citizens of this Commonwealth.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Todd Eachus, from left, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Rep. Keith McCall and Rep. Dwight Evans are all smiles Thursday in Harrisburg, Pa. The legislature approved a plan to help close Philadelphia's budget shortfall by raising the sales tax and deferring some pension obligations.

Just like Pennsylvania, Philadelphia is bloated with employees hired to secure votes.

City governments have also expanded during the past 15 years. While local-government payrolls, excluding teachers, have been flat for the past 12 months, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, the number of employees soared by more than 743,000 to 6.49 million over the past decade, an increase of nearly 13%.

In 2006, there were more city pension recipients (33,900) than city workers (28,700) and the gap is expected to widen in coming years.

The amount of city employees' pensions, ranging from around $29,000 to $40,000, are similar to other cities, but Philadelphia city workers contribute less of their own money than workers in other cities. For example, municipal employees in San Francisco contribute 9 percent to their own pension plans, compared with 1.85 percent for Philadelphia city workers.

The report's authors place much of the blame on the city's paltry contributions to the pension fund during the 1970s and 1980s and what they call a "poorly timed" decision to issue $1.2 billion in bonds to reduce unfunded liability.

Regarding health care, Philadelphia's situation is extreme even compared to other big cities grappling with similar challenges, according to the report.

Health care for municipal workers cost the city more than $9,800 per employee in fiscal 2006 , a figure second only to Detroit. When it comes to health care costs for retirees, Philadelphia tops the list of 10 cities studied at more than $9,100 per retiree.

Mayor Nutter why don't you take these ideas and implement them before you raise taxes. The full text of those ideas are viewable here. To the Pennsylvania legislature, why didn't you force Nutter to implement these ideas before you granted his tax hike?

Here's a look at one of them.

The City Controller and the Mayor’s Office aren’t expected to be best buddies. But in the midst of this city’s fiscal crisis, Controller Alan Butkovitz identified $300 million in one-shot savings and roughly $185 million in annual savings over five years, including a proposal to get many millions more in revenue out of the city’s emergency medical services (EMS) operations. The Nutter administration ignored most of his ideas.

According to this article that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer written By Patrick Kerkstra the sales tax hike from 7 to 8 percent will raise $10 million a month or $120 million for the year. The City Controller identified over 4 times that much in savings without a single tax increase. But whoever said government was smart. And we should keep electing the same legislators for what reason???

It cracks me up every time I hear about Republicans spreading "false information" over Obama's healthcare proposals. Well here is one that isn't coming from the Republicans and it ought to be enough to scare anyone. Today ABCnews is reporting that when questioned about Max Baucus's bill and the provision for a $1,900.00 penalty for persons who do not buy health insurance the reply was jail time could be involved.

The latest spark is a letter that Thomas Barthold, the chief of staff to the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation, sent Thursday to Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.

Given that the health-care bill written by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus contains a $1,900 fee (or excise tax) for not buying health insurance, Ensign wanted to know what would happen if an American didn't pay the penalty.

In a handwritten letter, Barthold told Ensign that under an existing provision of the Internal Revenue Code, willful failure to pay a fine can result in being charged with a misdemeanor which could carry a penalty of up to $25,000, or up to a year in jail, or both. The handwritten letter was a follow-up to an answer that Barthold gave Ensign during Thursday's mark-up of the Baucus bill.

Friday, September 25, 2009

When Vonderheid was asked the question about the lease concerning PA Child Care and whether he would do it again his response was "I'd sign that lease tomorrow, with only two alterations,"

He goes on further to say As for the two differences, the first change would have been to pre-negotiate the price, and the second would have been to tie the rent the county paid for the facility to the governmental reimbursement rate so there wouldn't have been a significant fluctuation, Vonderheid said.

Todd, I think you have some explaining to do. Let's take a look at the facts and see if your statements hold up.

1st issue: On the price pre-negotiation statement. Todd, you must have a significant lapse in memory.

Pennsylvania Child Care, a new multi-million dollar juvenile detention and residential treatment center, opened Thursday in Pittston Township amid expectations that the facility will forge working relationships with many Pennsylvania county court systems, especially Luzerne's.

The county commissioners Wednesday passed several motions creating contracts with seven different juvenile detention facilities in the state, including Pennsylvania Child Care. Commissioner Makowski stressed that the county has decided to build its own juvenile detention facility.

Detention is 100-percent reimbursable by the federal government and costs vary from $160 to $288 per day.

PCC charges $268 per day.

Vonderheid tries to cover his tracks by asking for the results of the audit being conducted by the State Department of Public Welfare when he already voted for the lease. Once you enter a lease it is very difficult to break. Vonderheid justifies the lease cost based on prices paid for the last three years. Again, if they are doing it for the last three years where was the emergency?

Vonderheid states if the audit comes back and is unfavorable to PA ChildCare he will do what is right for the taxpayers. What were his actions when he found out about the results of the audit? Nothing.

Luzerne County Commissioners Greg Skrepenak and Todd Vonderheid declared a state-of-emergency Thursday to ratify four short-term contracts with service providers for a Pittston Township juvenile care center. The county will begin a 20-year, $58 million lease for the facility with Pennsylvania Child Care on Jan. 1. All contracts with service providers at the facility expire Dec. 31.

An emergency was declared to bypass normal advertising requirements for services, Vonderheid said.

Commissioner Stephen Urban did not support any of the contracts. He said declaring the emergency was unnecessary and proves Vonderheid and Skrepenak acted on the lease too quickly.

Vonderheid's letter to Estelle Richman, secretary of the Department of Public Welfare, asking to expedite an audit, which allegedly warns the lease is a bad deal for taxpayers, is too late, Urban said.

"He didn't do his due diligence on this," Urban said of Vonderheid. "His letter is nothing more than back tracking. He is asking questions that should have been asked before he signed the lease."

"The lease was based on rates approved for three straight years, by two different administrations," Vonderheid said.

So Todd, you were telling us that the rates were approved for three straight years but there was no pre-negotiating??? You're free to comment and explain that rationale.

2nd issue. Declaring an emergency. He admits in the last sentence above that the rates were approved for at least three years. What necessitated an emergency? Was the emergency declared to purposely bypass bidding requirements or contract requirements of public officials? Can someone explain to me how you declare a 20 year emergency, 20 years being the amount of time entered into by Luzerne County to lease PA Child Care?

Further, at the same meeting support services for the PA ChildCare facility are authorized for only 30 or 120 day periods. How can you have an emergency for the main facility but not the services that support it?

"Other contracts approved were for food service, custodial and maintenance service, and health insurance. They were all for 120 days, except the custodial and maintenance contract, which is for 30 days.

Greg Zappala claims he was unaware of Ciavarella's and Conahan's escapades. Greg, you are in finance. Let's ask you a question. Your father is a former judge. Your brother is a District Attorney. You own a business and watch a motion pass declaring an emergency when the county has been leasing your facility for three years and it doesn't catch your eye? I guess it's possible......

Tina Gartley is a candidate for judge in Luzerne County. Her slogan is "The Change We Need- The Justice We Deserve." On her website she mentions that she is married to Scott Gartley. Welll....

Let's go over to Robert Powell's website to take a look. A press release talks about a rumored $10 million dollar settlement for a crash on the Airport Beltway in Hazle Township.

Settlement negotiations began immediately following a hearing Tuesday before Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski, who imposed sanctions against GM for discovery violations related to trial of a civil lawsuit.

Olszewski ordered GM to pay expenses of $20,000 to Powell plus $500 for preparation of a motion for sanctions.

The judge also fined GM $100 a day from Aug. 5 to Oct. 4 for missing a court-imposed deadline to turn over engineering change reports related to design of the fuel system of the Blazer.

Attorney Bob Powell said he agreed after the hearing to give GM lawyers 48 hours to obtain corporate approval of the settlement "or we would pull any offer off the table."

Powell said the lawyers called at 4 p.m. Thursday and stated "GM was prepared to meet all of our demands. They insisted on two more caveats. One was confidentiality."

Powell said he called his clients around 6 p.m. and obtained their approval. Confidentiality??

The battle over GM documents resulted in Olszewski appointing local attorney Scott Gartley to determine which ones were protected by attorney-client privilege.

The judge approved the payment of a $26,925 fee to Gartley and apportioned $22,886.25 to GM and $4,038.75 to the plaintiffs.

The question I have for Tina Gartley is this? How close were you or your husband with Robert Powell? Have you or any member of your family ever been a guest at the Florida condominium connected to judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan?

In a story that appears in today's Citizen's Voice by supersleuth Dave Janoski(and Hazleton Standard Speaker) Judge Peter Paul Olszewski maintains that a photo leaked to the media showing him with Micahel Conahan, Ron Bellitiere, and attorney John Kennedy from Forty Fort is a smear attempt to influence his retention bid this November.

Olszewski said he was unaware of either man's alleged criminal activities when the photo was taken in 2005.

"It's obviously being done to embarrass me before the election," Olszewski said of the photo, which shows him, Conahan, the convicted dealer and a Luzerne County attorney holding drinks and liquor bottles in a Florida condominium that Conahan allegedly used to launder kickbacks in the kids-for-cash case.

In a tense, hour-long interview with The Citizens' Voice editors and reporters Thursday, Olszewski said he believes the June 2005 photo was mailed anonymously to the media by Conahan and/or his codefendant, former county Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr., to hurt his bid for a second 10-year term in November.

"If you publish this, you're doing Mark's bidding," Olszewski said. "You're doing what the most corrupt judges in the world want you to do."

Olszewski said he clashed with Ciavarella during Ciavarella's last months as president judge, before Ciavarella and Conahan were charged in the kids-for-cash scandal in January. Olszewski said he disagreed with a lawsuit Ciavarella filed against the county commissioners to stall proposed cuts in court staffing and other administrative decisions made by Ciavarella.

Olszewski said shortly after Ciavarella's arrest in January, Ciavarella left him a "rambling," angry voice mail message "castigating" him for comments he made to the media about Ciavarella's tenure as president judge.

Olszewski said three people have told him Ciavarella is still "seething" over the criticism.

Whether or not the electorate will believe him will be born out in the Novemeber bid. Unfortunately, Judge Burke needs to separate himself from this mess. I have heard nothing but admirable accolades about his service and integrity. That is not to contrast in any way with any assessment of Olszewski's work on the bench.

Communication in any relationship is key to its survival. Right now the voters are angry, not just with Luzerne County, but the Pennsylvania legislature, Congress, and the President. They need to be made whole again with respect to government's duty to the people, not to themselves. If any incumbent wants to survive the next few years of election it will be sincere efforts, not pandering that will retain his/her seat.

Getting back to the picture. I have an associate who worked for the CIA for 23 years. One of the tenents in his training was "Dont worry about who you are looking at worry about who is looking at you." Who took the picture? It's not who we see but who we don't see. Who else is missing from the picture that may have been at the condo at the same time.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Pittsburgh and Philadelphia cultural groups on Wednesday met with Gov. Ed Rendell and legislative leaders of both parties to convince them to drop a budget proposal that would levy the state sales tax on music, dance, theater and museum admissions.More....

Lawmakers Oppose High School Graduation Exams + No Funding For It

A groundswell of public opposition to high school graduation exams is reflected in the 161 House members who signed onto a resolution to block the state Department of Education from implementing the program.

A state budget agreement between legislative leaders and the governor is far from a done deal in the House, where Republicans are vowing to fight it and some Democrats are wary of tax increase proposals.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

It wasn't the public outcry, but rather pressure from billionaire Donald Trump that forced Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi to pack up his tent and apparently abandon a plan to spend the night in a ritzy New York suburb.

The Libyan leader faces resistance on his first visit to the U.S. in 40 years.After a rambling, conspiracy-theory-filled speech delivered at the U.N. Wednesday morning, Gadhafi planned to spend the night in Bedford, N.Y., where his agents Tuesday pitched a giant Bedouin tent on a property owned by Trump.

As local officials steamed at hosting an accused sponsor of terror, the Secret Service prepared to escort Gadhafi to the tony town outside New York City.

Just as the town was preparing to deal with the dictator next door, Donald Trump, who said he unknowingly rented a piece of his 113-acre Seven Springs estate to the Libyan, stepped in and asked the leader to take down his tent and find housing elsewhere.

"We have requested that the tenant occupying the property in Bedford, N.Y. remove the tent that was erected. They have complied with this request. Additionally, Mr. Gadhafi will not be going to the property," said Trump Organization spokeswoman Rhona Graff.

Gaddafy referred to Obama as a "son" he said Obama was Africa's son and a Kenyan. Gadaffi said that Obama should be president for ever. To that end I defend Obama from the vicious attack designed to inflame American opinion against the American President. Gaddahfi..get this straight....we can disagree with the President but don't confuse that disagreement with weakness on the part of Americans to defend their sovereignty and their land. The President is the Commander In Chief with personnel ready to demonstrate their allegiance to the American flag. If I were you sir, If I were you I would make sure one of our drones doesn't take a turn from Pakistan and find its way into Lybia.

In reflecting on the Pennsylvania Legislature yesterday I went from totally amazed to unbelievable to disheartening. Except for the HOUSE GOP everyone else compromised to tax the arts, theatre, non-profits and the like for what reason???

The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote a apropos editorial today about the WAM money that was saved in the Pennsylvania budget deal reached by the three caucuses.

The budget deal in Harrisburg will cut funding for libraries, social services, and education, but legislators plan to keep plenty of taxpayers' money for their own special "needs." Budget negotiators have set aside at least $100 million for what's known as "walking-around money." WAMs are discretionary grants that individual lawmakers hand out to favored groups in their home districts with little justification and no accountability.

WAMs are also a great way for incumbents to help ensure their reelection. It's no coincidence that legislative leaders have made this honeypot available now - all 203 House seats and half of the 50 Senate seats are up for election next fall.

This legislature does not excel at much, but it is superb at looking out for itself. Legislators know there will be plenty of anti-incumbent sentiment at the polls next year.

There's anger over the budget impasse, criminal trials will begin this winter over alleged illegal bonuses to legislative staffers, and electric rates will soar when rate caps expire next year. It's just the kind of environment in which millions in WAMs could buy an endangered incumbent some goodwill back home.

That's why Wagner told city officials on Tuesday that he's ending his court fight, even though he still disagrees with the plan.

Hazleton has a court case ongoing with the Auditor General. With the passing of HB 1828 the issue will probably be resolved. But it just goes to prove that those detractors of Mayor Barletta who were waving the Auditor General's findings as proof of improper activities failed to realize that his findings had to stand up to a court test in order to be found correct. Todd Eachus was using words like "illegal" yet he failed to wait for a court case to back up his personal attack.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

In today's Citizen's Voice Michael Buffer reports on the sad state of financial affairs facing Luzerne County. The county is considering a 33% tax hike to make ends meet. According to Buffer the county will be able to pare that down to 22% if they lay off 150 people.

The reality is that we are in the midst of a restructuring of Luzerne County whether "they" want to believe it or not. I call it the "Southerton" effect. Except for that PizzellaFella I believe the next set of office holders WILL GET IT.

They will understand that the people are damn angry with government. Speaking of Pizzella, dude, did you not see what happened to Ciavarella when his arrogance ran about ten feet in front of him? Seriously, think about this. You couldn't walk in Conahan's shadow and you believe you are going to do what? Gort has a great post about the PizzellaFella. Frank...ly speaking if you were a pilot you would know it is a dangerous game to get caught in the propwash.

Anyone who has encountered the federal system will give you the following rundown. The Feds are not Keystone cops. The problem with the Feds is you are already caught when they come for you. When they want to talk to you they already know what they need to know. They just want to talk to tidy up a few details before they lock your ass up. Ohh off subject, sorry. Back to Luzerne County.

Commissioner Petrilla and Urban. Take a page from the Allegheny County playbook. Start with this paper written by Christopher Briem of the University of Pittsburgh that details how Allegheny County came to its breaking point of change. Efficiency in consolidation is no different for government than it is for private industry.

In line with consolidation look how Allegheny County was able to extract savings and install efficiency into its government structure by eliminating Row Offices. Allegheny County's efforts to terminate duplication saved residents millions. Although Dan Onorato doesn't stand a chance against Tom Corbett shoud the race for governor shape up that way I want to give him credit for his plan outlined in this article. Yes, not all Democrats are bad.

But the effort should not stop there. Many local governments should be looking at consolidation. The state should be mandating enrollment in the Pennsylvania Council of Governments to effect a statewide savings for each and every taxpayer.

Councils of governments are meant to act as a conduit among an area's municipal governments, so that they can try to address common problems together - and perhaps save money doing it.

The Mountain Council of Governments represents 13 municipalities in the Hazleton area, including municipalities in Luzerne, Schuylkill and Carbon counties. There is no membership fee to belong to the Mountain COG.

For more information on the M-COG contact Dan Guydish, executive director, at 455-1509 or at www.hazletonchamber.org.

I know this blog is about Pennsylvania but some national issues beg exposure.It never ceases to amaze me how Obama has us looking left when we should be looking right, pun intended. Fox News has a great piece about American aid to despots and wealthy nations.

The U.S. is expected to spend about $36.7 billion on its foreign aid budget next year, but large chunks of that money will be going to countries whose leaders openly vilify the U.S. -- and to others that are already rolling in dough.

Americans went broke last year filling up their tanks thanks to high gas prices leveraged by OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Yet this year, the State Department budget provides millions to oil-rich kingdoms relishing huge profits, like Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Much of the foreign aid budget is spent on military, disaster and humanitarian assistance. But some of the spending for 2010 will be heading to countries where dictators rule:

$98 million to persuade Kim Jong-il of North Korea to give up nuclear weapons$20 million for political prisoners and political rights in Castro's Cuba$6 million to promote civil society in Hugo Chavez's Venezuela$500,000 for border security in Muammar al-Qaddafi's Libya$26 million to help train police in Evo Morales' Bolivia$56 million to support the rule of law and human rights in Vladimir Putin's Russia, arguably one of the world's richest nations

And the Democrats have the nerve to talk about rich Republicans when they are supplying the likes of these characters with an immense amount of money. Chavez...al-Qaddaffi...unbelivable.

If you really want to crack up look at where Qaddaffi took up residence this week in New York. Is there comfort in the fact that he is having trouble pitching his tent.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Board of Commissioners Chairperson Maryanne Petrilla said she agrees that local row officer salaries are “off base” compared to similarly sized counties and will recommend the commissioners vote to study row officer salaries in those counties.

The county should then hold several public hearings to present findings and gather public feedback, she said.

“It’s their government and they have to have a say,” Petrilla said.

Well, Maryann here's what I have to say. We have a government study commission examining the county structure. In looking at the request to increase salaries another issue has come to light lately, so much so that Attorney General Tom Corbett has agents working on the matter.

The Row Offices are independent of county government as the offices are elected at large by the voters. It basically states that in the Administrative Code of Luzerne County. Their departments are funded through county government but the elected officials are independent from answering to the Commissioners. And that's when the problem started. Who do they answer to? Only the voters at election time.

If the Commissioners want to look to increase the salaries of Row Officers who is negotiating the time spent "on the clock" to earn that salary? There have been questions raised about vacation time, sick time, and the like recently so it is about time these Row Officers enter into a "contract" with the voters to document their time spent on the job to justify their salary.

Reporting is required in the private sector';the public sector should learn a lesson. If its not documented it didn't happen.

One of Todd Eachus's famous statements in negotiating- "You've Gotta Take A Hit." According to Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review the Pennsylvania budget deal has Fast Eddy Rendell and Pennsylvania legislators "taking a hit."

"Everyone's taken a hit in terms of public support," said Christopher Borick, a political science professor at Muhlenberg College in Allentown. "There's enough dissatisfaction with the whole process and the handling of this budget that there's a lot of people wounded politically."

Rendell's "paid a very steep price," said Borick. "He doesn't have the same standing he once did."

Casinos, tax cheats, and public schools are among the winners under the budget agreement while smokers, theater patrons, businesses, and nonprofits running small games of chance are among the losers.

It is unbelieveable that one of the ways House Democrats and Senate Democrats and Republicans want to balance the budget is to tax non-profits that sell small games of chance. Raffles, small games of chance tickets, and punchboards will all be subject to a 20% tax. In addition the small games of chance license fee will increase from $100.00 to $200.00.

Legislation before the House and Senate would increase the prize limit for any one game from $500 to $1,000. The Senate bill would increase the weekly prize limit from $5,000 to $20,000; the House bill would increase the weekly limit to $25,000. The current prize limits were set in 1988 when small games were legalized

Legislative leaders initially estimated the state can obtain $100 million in new revenues annually from an expansion of small games. The state Revenue Department has made a lower revenue estimate ranging from $14 million to $35 million annually.

I guess they need the money to fund their double dipping with their per diem. Increasing the payout limit will only affect a portion of the non-profits. Many non-profits were not at the $5,000.00 limit presently allowed by law.

Do they realize that the tax to be collected went to take care of the less fortunate inlcuding children, families, veterans, and senior citizens? Volunteer fire companies and ambulances also rely on this type of income. They just taxed the poorest people to fund their lavish food fetish. Depending on which figure you believe anywhere from $14 million to $100 million in aid to those humans is now lost. This action should create the environment for the next tea party.

To be fair you should note that House Republicans were kept OUT of the deal and had no say in its creation.

The law signed Friday by Gov. Ed Rendell says that cities "may no longer" use pension tax revenues for any purpose other than to defray pension costs.

By using that language, the law recognizes retroactively that Hazleton had diverted pension tax revenues to other purposes for a number of years, but that practice will no longer be legal in the future, said House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-116, Hazleton, on Friday

With the new law taking effect immediately, Wagner can legally release the city from having to make the repayment, said Eachus.

Eachus said he plans to contact Wagner about the matter now that the law is on the books.

Attorneys in the auditor general's office were briefed on the pension bill's provisions as it moved through the House and Senate in recent weeks.

The law makes new use of "asset smoothing" which involves spreading out pension fund gains and losses over a time. This is designed to avoid wide fluctuation in annual employer contribution requirements stemming from volatile investment markets.

This will save Hazleton more than $600,000 annually on its pension obligation.

Those portions are some of the most disingenous statements on record. Mr. Eachus had nothing to do with the language highlighted that helped Hazleton. That language was added on the Senate side, not the House. He sat silent during a House Fianance Committee hearing held August 18,2008 when the merits of Senate Bill 961 were discussed.

Now lets move onto the real reason for this post and part of it will address the supposed "savings" for the City of Hazleton.

Over at the Commonwealth Foundation Nathan Benefield provides a great analysis of HB 1828 that was passed and is the subject of the article discussed above. Essentially this bill allows municiplaties with under funded pensions to delay payments which will mean that future taxpayers will have to foot the bill. It will lead to increased taxes.

The savings Eachus talks about with Hazleton has to do with a provision that payments are deferred for 5 years. How is that a "savings"?

What he doesn't say is that there is an 8.25% interest penalty on that deferrment. If cities like Hazleton cannot afford their pensions now how is deferring going to help them in the future? It further points to higher taxes. But it doesn't stop there.

Of course, municipalities present only part of Pennsylvania's pension woes. In 2012, state and school property taxpayers will experience significant increases in pension contributions -- from less than 5 percent of salary to upward of 30 percent -- because of similar politically motivated manipulations for public school teachers and state workers in 2001 and 2003.

This bill is no longer a missed opportunity for pension reform, but only serves to exacerbate the crisis facing Pennsylvania cities. Not only is it a vote to raise taxes now, but the deferment of payments pushes costs onto future taxpayers, and will likely mean more tax increases in the future.

At a time when a budget deal is announced in Harrisburg you have people like Brad Bumsted over at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review highlighting legislative excesses costing taxpayers big time. In this article he chronicles the catering bills paid for our legislators while they collect their per diem, an allowance part of which is to pay for meals. It's not only double dipping but it demonstrates the audacity of our legislators to lavish themselves while people are losing their jobs or going without health insurance.

Try $680 at Papa John's on March 10, 2008.

That same day, the House spent $4,612 on food from Zia's catering.

They spread the pizza purchases around.

On March 17, 2008, the House spent:

• $160 at Monte Carlo's Pizza

• $1,351 at Brother's Pizza

• $690 at Papa John's

• and $936 at Mama's Pizza, according to House records.

That's $3,137 worth of pizza -- in one day.

At an average, say, of $12 per pizza, that's 261 pies.

For opening-day ceremonies on Jan. 1, 2007, the catering tab was $15,000 from Our Daily Bread in Harrisburg. Of course, a lot of family and friends were fed that day as well.

Catering from Cantone's restaurant in July 2007 was $9,750.

Zia's catering was paid $5,150 on July 16 of that year.

The cost of per diems for the House then was about $29,000 per day.

During the 2008 budget impasse (very short by this year's standards), the House fed lawmakers on June 29 and 30, and July 2, 3 and 4.

On June 29, there were catering tabs for $6,175 from C & J Catering and $6,964 from Zia's.

That was $13, 319, or $65 per member.

Staffers undoubtedly take their share, so the per-member figure probably was a lot less.

On July 4, 2008, the House splurged -- if that's possible.

Because lawmakers had to work on Independence Day, they pulled out all stops with a $20,550 tab from Premier Catering. There are part-time workers in the commonwealth who would like to make that much in a year.

It's double dipping, pure and simple.

On many other days when they receive per diems now worth $158, lawmakers eat on the lobbyists' dime.

Very few if any legislators reduce per diems because they're getting free chow.

The House comptroller has said that if lawmakers eat meals provided by the chief clerk, they don't have to deduct that from their per diems. If they eat out, they are supposed to do so.

Lawmakers who eat free are pocketing lots of money.

On former Rep. Frank LaGrotta's blog (lagrottablog.blogspot.com), the Lawrence County Democrat recently recalled a song sung regularly by former Rep. Gerard Kosinski, a Philadelphia Democrat, whenever the House took the master roll call, to the tune of "Maria" from "West Side Story":

"Currently, students have the option to choose between private and public lenders, and I am a firm believer that such choice and competition among lenders is the best proven method for reducing costs and improving services. By omitting private lenders, we would create a monopoly within the federal government regarding student loans.

"Additionally, in April, I joined Sallie Mae CEO AL Lord to announce the return of 600 jobs from overseas to Sallie Mae's lending facility in Hanover Industrial Park, almost doubling the number of employees at Sallie Mae in the region, and I will continue to work to enhance employment in the area. If this legislation is enacted, Sallie Mae would no longer originate loans which would greatly impact the company, and could cause the loss of jobs. Since I joined Congress, I have worked first and foremost to create jobs in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Especially in these difficult economic times, we must work to ensure that the jobs we have stay in the area and that more jobs are created.

"I agree with the intent of H.R. 3221 to allow as many students as possible to go to college, while also investing in community colleges, but I do not believe that this bill was the correct method to accomplish these goals."

"These are reforms that have been talked about for years, but they're always blocked by special interests and their lobbyists," Obama said Thursday during a rally at the University of Maryland.

"Well, because you voted for change in November, we're going to bring change in the House of Representatives today," the president said.

Ending loan subsidies and turning control over to the government would save taxpayers an estimated $87 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Lawmakers would use that money to help make college more affordable, increasing the maximum Pell Grant by $1,400 to $6,900 over the next decade.

"The choice before us is clear. We can either keep sending these subsidies to banks or we can start sending them directly to students," said the bill's sponsor, California Democratic Rep. George Miller, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.

According to veteran reporter Jennifer Learn-Andes of the Times Leader the FBI seized records relating to the removal of properties for back taxes owed. In addition they requested the Luzerne County Commissioner meeting minutes from 2004 to 2007.

You can read Jennifer's story at this link. Let me speculate on the last request. Please keep in mind that the following are excerpts from the articles cited.

Meanwhile, Makowski has been adamant that he wants to build a new county facility rather than repair the old one or lease from Pennsylvania Child Care, the firm that is building the Pittston Township facility.

Pennsylvania Child Care, a new multi-million dollar juvenile detention and residential treatment center, opened Thursday in Pittston Township amid expectations that the facility will forge working relationships with many Pennsylvania county court systems, especially Luzerne's.

The facility is reported to cost $7.4 million; however, Zappala indicated that figure was too low when he spoke of having "eight figures" invested in the property.

The county commissioners Wednesday passed several motions creating contracts with seven different juvenile detention facilities in the state, including Pennsylvania Child Care. Commissioner Makowski stressed that the county has decided to build its own juvenile detention facility.

He and minority Commissioner Steve Urban joined to pass a $25 million bond issue, part of which is earmarked for a new juvenile detention center.

County Engineer Jim Brozena said the project is being targeted for construction on an 88-acre county tract behind the county's Valley Crest Nursing Home in Plains Township.

Projections call for the facility to be completed 18 to 30 months from groundbreaking.

Luzerne County Commissioners Greg Skrepenak and Todd Vonderheid declared a state-of-emergency Thursday to ratify four short-term contracts with service providers for a Pittston Township juvenile care center. The county will begin a 20-year, $58 million lease for the facility with Pennsylvania Child Care on Jan. 1. All contracts with service providers at the facility expire Dec. 31.

The most expensive deal was with Northwestern Human Services, which will oversee juveniles 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The firm will bill the county $193,000 monthly.

An emergency was declared to bypass normal advertising requirements for services, Vonderheid said.

Commissioner Stephen Urban did not support any of the contracts. He said declaring the emergency was unnecessary and proves Vonderheid and Skrepenak acted on the lease too quickly.

Other contracts approved were for food service, custodial and maintenance service, and health insurance. They were all for 120 days, except the custodial and maintenance contract, which is for 30 days.

Do you think Vonderheid is out of the woods on this one??? If there was an emergency why weren't the food service, custodial, and maintenance service contracts for 20 years??

One of Luzerne County's biggest budget problems is more cost-effective thanks to the lease of a Pittston Township juvenile center, said Sam Diaz, county chief of budget and finance.

Total expenses at the facility through the first six months of 2005 are $2.1 million, or 42 percent of the year's anticipated $5 million budget, Diaz said.

On the revenue side, the county estimated receiving $5.2 million from the facility in 2005. With $2.2 million billed through June and a more aggressive marketing campaign in place, the projections are on target, Diaz said.

In fact, with other cost-cutting measures implemented by Judge Mark Ciavarella, the county has spent $1.8 million less on juvenile placements than it did through June 2004, Diaz said. The juvenile placement line item finished last year about $3 million over budget.

"It's not all doom and gloom here," Diaz said. "(The juvenile placement budget) is on track. It's exactly where I expect. It's definitely not losing money."

Sam Diaz just got done telling us how much Luzerne County was "saving" with juvenile placements.

Luzerne County officials' failure to understand state regulations and an inability to negotiate juvenile placement rates cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to a draft audit conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.

The draft audit is a component of a lawsuit against Luzerne County Controller Steve Flood and two state employees that was unsealed Wednesday by Pennsylvania Superior Court. The suit filed by Pennsylvania ChildCare, the owners of a Pittston Township juvenile care center, attempted to stop Flood from releasing the contents of the draft audit.

The draft audit details how Pennsylvania ChildCare overcharged the county by approximately $286,000 for juveniles transferred within the facility. It also outlines how the corporation made a $1.2 million profit in 2003, due largely to $1 million in daily rates to house juveniles "not reflective of a standard computation."

Most care facilities' daily rates are based on the cost of housing juveniles divided by the number of days they stay at the facility. Pennsylvania ChildCare's rates were based on state averages - not the formula, according to the draft audit.

"The county should use the rates, based on actual costs, as the basis for negotiating rates," the draft audit stated. "The county is in an excellent position to negotiate rates for without Luzerne County this detention/secure facility would have some difficulty filling the beds."

Luzerne County Commissioners have an opportunity to renegotiate the lease to lower the costs in accordance with the recommendations from the Department of Welfare Audit. It would be the prudent move according to their fiduciary duty and duties of loyalty and care. Instead look what they did.

The cost of Luzerne County's lease of a Pittston Township juvenile care center will increase by approximately $1.35 million in 2006, a new expense that does not alarm most county officials.

This year, the county will pay an additional $600,000, for an annual total of $2.9 million, to Pennsylvania ChildCare, the facility's owner. Mid Atlantic Youth Services will receive another $750,000, or $3.4 million annually, to manage and staff the facility.

Of the 60 beds at the facility, 44 were filled Thursday. Empty beds come at a cost, Urban said.

The Commissioners take the bond issue that was previously approved for a juvenile detention center and use it to fund a new county prison. Why is it cheaper to build a new county prison than lease one? How can the same Commissioners come to two different conclusions on basically the same issue? If the bond issue was for other purposes can they simply take that money for a different purpose?

As you can see the estimate for the new prison is $68 million. In an article that appeared in the Hazleton Standard Speaker on June 19, 2007 “Skrepenak: Weekend Lockdown at Luzerne County prison had 'snowball effect' I am particularly intrigued by the statement "County officials are considering a new prison that could cost $100 million and have more than 20 offers for a new prison site." In a little over a year the projected price has increased by $32 million or 47 percent. To me it points to a backroom effort hoping it will go unnoticed.

04/14/2006County jail design will cost $2.5 million BY JAMES CONMY STAFF WRITER

WILKES-BARRE Luzerne County officials are poised to spend more than $2.5 million to design a new prison even though construction on the jail may not begin for years.

The money to finance the new prison’s design will come from about $30 million in bond money the county borrowed for other projects, but has not expended to date, Skrepenak said.

Design costs are typically 5 percent to 7 percent of the estimated construction costs, Larry Bickford, a representative of Kimball and Associates, said during the work session. County officials negotiated a cost of about 4.25 percent of the estimated $68 million construction cost because of the uncertain construction date, said Sam Guesto, county manager.

Certain personnel in Luzerne County see an opening to move kids from this facility to Pa ChildCare. The daily rate at this facility was only $103.00 according to board member who is a friend of mine. The public outcry coupled with the fact that the investigation was blown up to be more than it was foiled this attempt.

WEST HAZLETON A child care facility that houses Luzerne County Children and Youth clients is under investigation by the state Department of Welfare for allegations made by two residents that they were physically abused, officials said.

In response, the county has taken 12 residents from the facility’s custody, county spokeswoman Kathy Bozinski said.

The latest turmoil unfolded when Skrepenak and fellow Commissioner Todd Vonderheid authorized a $58 million deal to lease the new facility, vowing the 20-year deal would lower Luzerne County’s juvenile costs and bring in revenue by housing juveniles from other counties at the facility.

The Democratic majority commissioners approved the deal despite draft papers Flood presented from a state audit showing Powell and Zappala overbilled the county by $200,000 for juveniles housed at the facility. A lawsuit filed against the state by Powell and Zappala have so far prevented the audit from being completed.

Luzerne County has received the state’s juvenile detention center draft audit, but county officials are confused about who gets to see it.

The state Department of Public Welfare e-mailed the audit to county Children and Youth director Frank Castano on Sept. 25.

County chief clerk/manager Sam Guesto said Castano has not forwarded a copy to county commissioners because the cover letter contained a warning, in bold print, that the information must be “safeguarded against unauthorized use.”

Guesto said he checked with the county solicitor’s office, which raised a concern that Castano could be held liable if the information was improperly released by other county officials.

That doesn’t sit well with minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban. He said commissioners – not Castano – oversee the county and the Pittston Township facility. He sent Castano an e-mail Friday seeking a copy of documents sent by the state, but Castano has not replied.

“When these audits or any type of reports come to managers, they should ensure through e-mail or phone conversation that their bosses know about them and provide them with a copy,” Urban said.

State welfare spokeswoman Anne Bale said Monday afternoon that Castano is free to give copies to the county commissioners.

“There’s nothing stopping the county Children and Youth from giving it to county commissioners. They’re welcome to it,” Bale said.

But Guesto said he wants to see permission in writing because the state’s warning letter “brings up thoughts of litigation.” Better yet, he said the state should send a copy to each commissioner.

Luzerne County will lose $2 million a year in state funding because the cost to rent a juvenile detention center — at least $2.9 million a year — is unreasonably excessive, according to an audit finding disclosed by County Commissioner Stephen A. Urban.

Last month, the state released copies of a draft audit to PA Child Care, owner of the 60-bed juvenile center in Pittston Township, and county Children and Youth director Frank Castano. Castano and County Manager Sam Guesto refused to give a copy to Urban, the Republican minority commissioner.

Urban said Thursday he got a copy this week directly from the state, and he accused Guesto and Commissioner Chairman Greg Skrepenak of trying suppress audit findings until after the Nov. 6 election.

“This should have been brought to the immediate attention of the full board of commissioners,” Urban said. “He doesn’t belong in office.”

Skrepenak, a Democrat, and Urban are both seeking another term. Skrepenak said the draft audit was being kept from county commissioners because PA Child Care threatened to file a lawsuit if information from the draft audit was given to the press.

On Wednesday, Skrepenak said Urban could not be trusted with a copy of the draft audit, and on Thursday, Skrepenak said Urban proved him right. He called Urban “a coward” for talking to the press about the audit and not talking to other county officials.

Oct. 31--Luzerne County Chief Clerk/Manager Sam Guesto said he is trying to set up a meeting with PA Child Care to discuss the possibility of buying its Pittston Township juvenile detention center or renegotiating the county's lease to use the facility.

"I'm very hopeful that it will take place this week," Guesto said.

Guesto said he is seeking the meeting based on "guidance" he received from another conference call meeting with the state on Tuesday.

"We're hoping that PA Child Care will be cooperative with the issues that the state has on the table for us to try to implement going forward," Guesto said.

Luzerne County “was unable to validate” a claim that a 20-year lease to use a privately-owned juvenile detention facility in Pittston Township reduced juvenile placement costs, according to a state audit report released Friday.

In response to a draft audit assessment that the county would lose $2 million a year in reimbursable state funding, county commissioners two weeks ago voted to terminate the lease by Feb. 29. The lease with facility owner Pennsylvania Child Care LLC began in 2005, and the cost was in excess of $2.9 million a year.

That annual cost, the state concluded, “could have instead been used as debt service for the borrowing of enough funds to construct and furnish at least three detention facilities.” In 2003, county Commissioner Stephen A. Urban and then-Commissioner Tom Makowski voted to borrow roughly $9 million for a new county-owned juvenile facility.

But in 2004, Greg Skrepenak and Todd Vonderheid became Democratic majority commissioners, and they agreed to the 20-year lease on Nov. 17, 2004 — 14 days after state officials discussed audit objectives with the facility owner.

About Me

McGruff the crime dog is a collaborated effort of artists, producers, writers, etc. Likewise this blog is a joint effort of concerned persons who are interested in politics and ending the efforts of politicians who derive private gain from their office; Politicians who thumbe their those at their constituency because they feel the power of incumbency allows them to be arrogant to the voters; Politicians who outright lie to the voters.
Posts will contain links so the readers can see for themselves what the real facts are on an issue.
People try to guess who the authors are on this blog. A friendly hint, they are never the same people. Being factual takes a joint effort to garner information. So the composition of an article will be gleaned from various sources, usually never the same.